BENIN CITY- Edo State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Saturday Uwuilekhue, yesterday warned motorists and other road users who ply the Benin/Auchi road axis, against driving one-way to avoid killing innocent citizens through avoidable accident.
Speaking to The Nigerian Observer in his office in Benin City, Hon. Uwuilekhue said that the warning has become necessary particularly against the backdrop of the incessant road accidents caused on the highway by motorists.
He maintained that the idea of driving one-way was a violation of traffic rules which carries severe penalty noting that the act has become a recurrent exercise in Benin City to the extent that over five hundred accidents had been recorded for the past six months, resulting in the death of over twenty persons.
He further stressed that the pains and arguish caused those whose relatives have died in the ugly process cannot be overemphasized, saying that the only way to console them is to charge and imprison any offender found violating the order.
He said that to effectively and efficiently implement the traffic rules, a task force comprising of five ministries, had been constituted to arrest and prosecute traffic offenders that ply one-way.
On the issues of illegal collection of revenue on the road, Uwuulekhue clarified the position of the task force, saying that it is not an illegal task force, but one constituted by five ministries, that is, the Ministries of Transport, Environment, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Women Affairs, Urban Development, and lands, survey and Housing, respectively, aimed at promoting a good atmosphere for the people.
He, however, debunked insinuations that the task force members collect money to set traffic offenders free, while positing the task force is not a revenue generating agency, but that it is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in Benin City.
He, therefore urged the community Chairmen in the areas on the need to partner with the government to give orientation to the people on the danger of driving one-way.